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Objectives. Mixed cryoglobulinaemia (MC) and autoimmune chronic hepatitis (AI-CH) are frequently associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection. Because HCV represents a possible common aetiological factor, the aim of the present study is to investigate the clinico-serological alterations of both MC and AI-CH and to verify a possible overlap between these disorders. Setting. Patients from three tertiary referral centres. Subjects. Two Italian series of 88 MC patients and 30 AI-CH type 1 were studied. Results. MC and AI-CH share several clinico-sero-logical features. The patients' mean age (MC vs. AI-CH: 60 ± 9 vs. 57 ± 13 years), disease duration (10.5 ± 5 vs. 9.6 ± 6 years), and female/male ratio (3.4 vs. 3.3) were very similar in the two series. Typical hallmarks of MC, i.e. purpura, arthralgias, and weakness, circulating mixed cryoglobulins with rheumatoid factor activity, and hypocomplement-emia were also recorded in a significant number of AI-CH patients. Similarly, chronic active hepatitis was found in 68% of MC patients and its histological and serological alterations were comparable with those of AI-CH; moreover, amongst various auto-antibodies, antinuclear antibodies and/or anti-smooth-muscle antibodies were detected in half of the cases of MC. Anti-HCV antibodies, detected by second-generation Chiron elisa and riba, were present in a high percentage of both MC and AI-CH (94 vs. 80%), and frequently associated with HCV viraemia (86 vs. 77%). Finally, anti-GOR, the HCV-related autoantibodies, were found in half cases of MC and AI-CH. Conclusions. On the whole, these data suggest that HCV in combination with other infectious and environmental and genetic factors can trigger a complex immunological disorder with different clinical patterns.

To determine whether the combination of nifedipine + chlorthalidone exerts an additive antihypertensive effect when compared with single-drug treatment, we studied 66 uncomplicated essential hypertensives, with diastolic blood pressure of greater than 100 and less than 115 mmHg. At the end of a 1-month washout placebo period, using a double-blind crossover design, the patients were randomly allocated to nifedipine (20 mg twice a day), chlorthalidone (25 mg once a day), the two drugs combined at the same doses and the corresponding placebo. Compared with the randomly allocated placebo, the three active treatments significantly reduced blood pressure without changing the heart rate or body weight. Both the absolute and percentage decreases in mean blood pressure induced by nifedipine and the combination compared with placebo were similar and significantly greater than those induced by chlorthalidone. Taken together, these data show that the combination of nifedipine + chlorthalidone does not exert any additive antihypertensive effect compared with nifedipine alone. This finding indicates that the combination of a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist + a thiazide diuretic is probably devoid of any particular clinical significance in the treatment of uncomplicated essential hypertensives.

To extend our previous findings that a low-Na/high-K salt (S) reduces BP in hospitalized patients, a multicenter study was performed. After a placebo period during which patients were informed by written instruction how to avoid only foods with a high Na content, 143 out-patients (84 males and 59 females, mean age 50.7 years, range 28-69) with DBP greater than or equal to 95 mm Hg randomly received for 4 weeks either metoprolol (M) 200 mg SR qd (67 patients), or S, 2 g bid to add to foods (76 patients). At the end of this period patients with DBP still greater than 90 mm Hg combined the two treatments for a further 4 weeks. Mean blood pressure (mm Hg), HR (bpm), 24-hrs urinary Na and K excretion were measured fortnightly. In comparison to pretreatment values MBP was significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced by both treatments, although to a greater extent in the M group already at the second week, without any further decrement thereafter. In the S group MBP decreased by 4.4 mm Hg and 27/76 patients were responders (DBP less than or equal to 90 mm Hg), while in the M group it was reduced by 9.0 mm Hg and 28/67 patients were responders. In the S group urinary Na excretion was significantly (P less than 0.01) lower than in the M group, and this difference was present until the end of period 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To evaluate the efficacy of acebutolol, 400–600 mg/day in elderly hypertensive patients, and to compare it with hydrochlorothiazide 25–50 mg/day, 45 patients with mild-moderate uncomplicated hypertension were treated for 6 weeks in a multicentre, single-blind, randomized, crossover trial. Acebutolol decreased supine systolic blood pressure from 186.5 to 162.7 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure from 107.4 to 92.4 mmHg. Hydrochlorothiazide decreased systolic blood pressure from 185.0 to 166.4 and diastolic blood pressure from 107.2 to 96.4. There was no difference between the effects of acebutolol and hydrochlorothiazide on blood pressure during the trial. Both drugs proved to be safe and effective antihypertensive agents, provided the major contraindications for their use were taken into account. Beta-blockade by acebutolol was highly effective in treating mild-moderate arterial hypertension in the elderly.

Thirty-seven adult out-patients of both sexes, suffering from classical or definite rheumatoid arthritis (R.A.) or osteoarthritis (O.A.), were given indoprofen 600 mg/day for up to 5 months, in order to evaluate its effectiveness and safety. A significant improvement of joint tenderness (Ritchie) and of functional index (Lee) was rapidly achieved in R.A. patients (12 cases); objective signs of inflammation, moreover, were gradually relieved. In O.A. patients (25 cases) articular pain, motility and swelling all improved in about 90% of cases. A complete set of laboratory tests reflecting blood picture, liver and kidney function, carried out at monthly intervals during the study, failed to reveal any sign of toxicity. Clinical tolerance was generally good.